This coming Saturday is the 2025 Haparanda Cup from Haparanda, Sweden. It is the last open international tournament of the year.
Three Americans are scheduled to compete in Haparanda — Jace Koezler (67 kg, Position Wrestling), Aidan Squier (87 kg, NMU/NTS), and ’23 World Team member Zac Braunagel (87 kg, NYAC/Navy WC). Braunagel is also the featured guest on Episode 67 of the Five Point Move Podcast set to be released later this week.
At press time, the entry list includes 78 competitors — nearly 20 more than the number of athletes who wrestled this past weekend in Haavisto. As reported, the lightly-participated Haavisto Cup was dominated by Bulgaria, which had five gold medalists and eight overall placewinners. Each of the five Bulgarian champs from the Haavisto Cup are registered for Haparanda. They are:
Nedyalko Petrov (up from 60 to 63 kg in Haparanda)
Abu Amaev (67 kg)
Albert Doev (77 kg)
Semen Novikov (87 kg)
Kiril Milov (97 kg)
The Arvo Haavisto and Haparanda cups have long served as the final two open tournaments on the yearly calendar, with Haavisto most often arriving the week after Haparanda. Regardless of the order in which the events are held, it is common for athletes (especially for those who reside in Europe) from the first tournament to compete in the next and then train during the week bridging both together. That was not the case for the US this year, as there were no Americans who entered Haavisto and the small contingent present in Sweden is focused on preparing for, and competing in, the Haparanda Cup.
97 kg
One spotlighted weight class at Haparanda this year is 97 kg — not because it carries the most athletes, because it doesn’t (only five), but because there should be a collision between two-time World silver Milov and ’19 runner-up (at 77 kg) Alex Kessidis (SWE). Also in that mix is Aleksandar Stjepanetic (SWE), who has become a mainstay for Sweden at 97 and typically produces solid results. Kessidis has made a few appearances at 97 kg over the past quad, and is certainly long and skilled-enough to pose problems for Milov, but any match-ups involving these three athletes are likely to be compelling.
87 kg
87 features Braunagel and Squier, each with his own mini backstory. For Braunagel, Haparanda delivers an opportunity for him to battle several tough foreigners, including Novikov, Lukas Ahlgren (SWE), Andrey Atanasov (BUL), and Oskar Johansson (SWE), all of whom are capable of providing the type of tests he needs to continue to rebuilding momentum as the season moves into the winter. 87 kg in the US come World Team selection is, as usual, expected to present the densest field and Braunagel figures to be in that conversation come April.
As for Squier, who has recently returned to form following injury, it is actually familiar territory. The highly-touted upper-weight prospect initially burst onto the scene due to his consistent run of overseas performances that came attached to medals. He is obviously stepping-up in terms of competition level with his entry into the fray in Haparanda, but he already holds a heightened degree of familiarity with the manner in which foreigners (especially Scandinavians) tend to compete, therefore it will be interesting to watch how he responds against the caliber of opposition awaiting him on Saturday.
2025 Haparanda Cup
Streaming
As mentioned, the Haparanda Cup begins Saturday morning at 10:00am local time (4:00am ET). The event is streaming live on BrottningPlay for a cost of $10.50 USD.
Entries
Note: the Haparanda Cup is observing a +2 kg allowance.
60 kg
Isaac Florentin (SWE)
Alyosha Iliev (BUL)
Julius Kingberg (IK Sparta)
Mark Liotto (SWE)
Oliver Perez (SWE)
Pontius Stahl (SWE)
63 kg
Matias Arpiainen (FIN)
Aser Ebro (ESP)
Ardit Fazljija (SWE)
Algot Gamelius (SWE)
Nedyalko Petrov (SWE)
Ilias Zairakis (GRE)
67 kg
Abu Amaev (BUL)
Tim Bergfalk (SWE)
Edvin Jaako (SWE)
Jace Koezler (USA)
Axel Nisson (SWE)
Lauri Perkka (FIN)
Ukko Riehunkangas (FIN)
Aaron Salonen (FIN)
Hjalmar Sandin (SWE)
Akseli Schmitt (FIN)
Ruslan Stamat (SWE)
Oskar Stahl (SWE)
72 kg
Willie Backman (SWE)
Simon Borkenhagen (SWE)
Christoffer Dahlen (SWE)
Ivo Iliev (BUL)
Artur Jeremejev (EST)
Petter Lund (SWE)
Onni Makela (FIN)
Elias Mikko (SWE)
Niklas Ohlen (SWE)
Nathan Phillips (SWE)
Huggo Riehunkangas (FIN)
Max Siirilia (SWE)
Oskari Talala (FIN)
Salih Ucar (TUR)
77 kg
Hugo Baff (SWE)
Albert Doev (BUL)
Teo Jonsson (SWE)
Luka Kajenne (FIN)
Arman Karapetyan (FRA)
Oscar Petterson (SWE)
Marcos Silva (ESP)
82 kg
Rossian Dermanski (BUL)
Alexander Gustafsson (SWE)
Alexander Johansson (SWE)
Santeri Karppinen (FIN)
Miro Leinonen (FIN)
Ekke Kou Leitham (EST)
Severi Maenpaa (FIN)
Albin Olofsson (SWE)
Adam Strandner (SWE)
Vikke Tarkkio (FIN)
Calle Zetterkvist (SWE)
87 kg
Lukas Ahlgren (SWE)
Andrey Atanasov (BUL)
Zac Braunagel (USA)
Jesper Harkanen (FIN)
Oskar Johansson (SWE)
Algot Kallman (SWE)
Elias Lyski (FIN)
Semen Novikov (BUL) — ’24 Olympic Champion
Svetoslov Nokolov (BUL)
Aidan Squier (USA)
97 kg
Emir Bozbag (TUR)
Alex Kessidis (SWE) — ’19 World silver
Kiril Milov (BUL) — 2X World silver
Hamza Sertcanli (SWE)
Alexsandar Stjepanetic (SWE)
130 kg)
Alan Dzabiev (BUL)
Jacob Logard (SWE)
Tuomas Rusi (FIN)
Kevin Uspenski (EST)
Robin Uspenski (EST)
Ivanov Speaks
Suples founder — and former USA coach — Ivan Ivanov recently spoke with BF Borba (Bulgarian Wrestling Federation) whilst visiting his native country. Ivanov remarked on several subjects, such as coach Stoyan Dobrev’s current plight with the BUL program, the development of athletes, and overseas training. The entire interview is well-worth reading (translated to English) and below are two excerpts.
Ivanov on Dobrev taking over the BUL program
“I see that these guys do not know many things, the basics of wrestling. The coach Stoyan Dobrev, one of the greatest and proven specialists in the world, a coach at the highest level, is currently forced to do the work of a club coach. And instead of someone teaching these kids how to turn, make correct holds in various throws and basic movements in wrestling, now Stoyan Dobrev has to deal with this part, as well. Separately, he is required to produce results at a World level. Excuse me, but only someone from the masses who has no knowledge of wrestling can believe this. And only an incompetent person can judge him, blame his failures on him. I want to emphasize: there are many great wrestlers who are not competent in coaching. It is obvious. Anyone can point fingers and talk nonsense. But Stoyan Dobrev is currently a club coach in the national team, who is teaching some kids who may be late for the big results. I see unprepared coaches, someone has not done their job… So we need to think not only about the elite in wrestling, but also about a complete restructuring of the clubs.”
Ivanov on Bulgarians participating in international camps
“I will answer this way: you came here to have this conversation, and you are in a hurry to leave because you have other commitments. But, if I had come to you, you would not be in a hurry and we would have talked for a long time. The same is true in this case. Where your home is, or rather close to it, should be the place for training, and not hoping to go to a camp in Hungary, for example, and wait for the Hungarians to teach you how to do your job. No one will do that. The wrestlers should be here, in one place, to have quality training in order to build the style of Bulgaria.”
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